CPF’s efforts this summer will be focused largely
on Project Track-’em, Project Watch-’em, and the construction of the
early phases of the CPF Education Centre. This issue’s spotlight on
CPF supporters shines on some of the companies who are helping us with
these programs:

Microwave Telemetry Incorporated:

A
closeup of Nate’s transmitter in August 2000 prior to
its application. (Photo by Mark Nash)

Microwave Telemetry Inc. has been at the forefront
of satellite transmitter research and production for more than a
decade. Their early units weighed 100 grams and were suitable
for use only on very large birds such as eagles.

But within a few years, technological advances
made it possible for Microwave Telemetry to produce units as
light as 20 grams, opening the door for satellite research on
peregrine falcons. Always striving to push technology to
new limits, Microwave Telemetry has just released the first of
its solar-powered transmitters, and efforts are underway to
continue to reduce the size and weight of the units being
produced to allow for studies of even smaller birds. Microwave
Telemetry has reliably provided all of CPF’s transmitters,
sometimes on short notice. Company president Dr. Paul Howie also
donated two free units to CPF last year, enabling us to
significantly expand the scope of our study. These units
represent an in-kind donation of approximately $10,000, and CPF
is extremely grateful for this generosity.
Official website: www.microwavetelemetry.com

Falconbridge Limited:

Once plans for Project Track-’em were put into
motion, the priority for CPF turned to finding sponsors willing
to help with the considerable costs of the program. One of the
first corporations to express an interest was Falconbridge
Limited. Mark Nash, Bill Green, and Marcel Gahbauer brought
Qetesh to their head office in Toronto in early 2000 to
introduce executives to the idea of Project Track-’em. As a
result of this meeting, Falconbridge agreed to fund a satellite
transmitter for Adelaide. The company has since agreed to
sponsor a second transmitter for the 2001-2002 season.

Falconbridge entered the mining business in 1928, and is now
among the leading producers of nickel, copper, cobalt, and
platinum group metals, as well as one of the world’s largest
recyclers of metal-bearing materials.

Adelaide
having a meal on a downtown Toronto building ledge in
July 2000, wearing the transmitter sponsored by
Falconbridge. (Photo by Jack Fitch)

The company currently operates in 14 countries
and has over six thousand employees. Falconbridge has developed
a Code of Ethics to guide safe and environmental operations.
Official website: www.falconbridge.com

Telus Communications

The
Telus "Mike" phones are an indispensable
communication tool during the CPF’s annual Fledgling
Watches. (Photo by Marcel Gahbauer)

The goal of CPF’s Fledgling Watches is to
monitor the activities of young peregrines and rescue them from
dangerous situations which may arise. Near most of the urban
nests in Ontario, it is impossible to see more than a fraction
of the skyline from any one spot, therefore volunteers are often
asked to spread out over a wide area to ensure that the birds
can be kept in view.

It is critical that each volunteer be able to
reach the coordinator at any time should an emergency develop,
as a peregrine on the ground cannot be left unattended, nor
should any volunteer attempt to capture a bird on their own.
This is where Telus comes in. For the 1998 nesting season, Telus
(known as Clearnet at the time) provided CPF with six
"Mike" units. These operate not only as traditional
cell phones, but also as two-way radios.

On several occasions, these have provided a
critical link between site coordinators and volunteers during
rescues. With the growth of CPF’s monitoring efforts, the
number of phones was expanded to nine in 1999. Also, since CPF
was increasingly being called upon to undertake raptor rescues
throughout the year, Telus agreed to let CPF keep six units in
use throughout the year, with additional units to be activated
annually during the peak breeding season. This represents an
annual in-kind donation to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation of
well over $4000.

Founded in Alberta in 1990, Telus expanded
across Canada in 1999 upon merging with BC Telecom. Aiming to
become a major competitor in the national communications market,
Telus is striving to improve service for customers ranging from
individuals and small businesses to multinational corporations,
while also supporting community groups with financial and
in-kind donations totaling $14 million in 2000.
Official website: www.telus.com

Home Depot Canada

In recent months, Home Depot Canada has been one
of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation’s biggest supporters.
Home Depot was founded in Atlanta in 1978 and has since become
the world’s largest home improvement retail outlet, with
almost 60 stores in Canada and more than 1000 around the
world.

CPF
volunteers at the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show hold up the
Home Depot buckets. (Photo by Brian Hart)

The company has made a commitment to helping
community groups, and last year reserved a budget of more than
$25 million for programs involving affordable housing, at-risk
youth, and the environment. Prior to the Toronto Sportsmen’s
Show, the Scarborough Home Depot store at Eglinton and Bellamy
provided CPF with 200 large plastic Home Depot buckets. These
proved to be a remarkable fundraising tool, contributing greatly
to CPF’s success at the show. More recently, Home Depot
provided even more substantial support by donating more than
$3,000 worth of materials for the construction of phase one of
the CPF Education Centre, as well as the Kitchener-Waterloo hack
box.
Official website: www.homedepot.com